work 1 of 2

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2
3
as in to serve
to have a certain purpose the human kidneys work as a filtering system for the blood

Synonyms & Similar Words

4
as in to perform
to produce a desired effect this headache remedy takes half an hour to work

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5
6
as in to operate
to control the mechanical operation of show me how to work the machine

Synonyms & Similar Words

7
8

work

2 of 2

noun

1
as in composition
a literary, musical, or artistic production unfortunately, many of her works are now out of print

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
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as in factory
works plural a building or set of buildings for the manufacturing of goods a glass works where high quality glassware is made

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun work contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of work are drudgery, grind, labor, toil, and travail. While all these words mean "activity involving effort or exertion," work may imply activity of body, of mind, of a machine, or of a natural force.

too tired to do any work

In what contexts can drudgery take the place of work?

The meanings of drudgery and work largely overlap; however, drudgery suggests dull and irksome labor.

an editorial job with a good deal of drudgery

When might grind be a better fit than work?

The synonyms grind and work are sometimes interchangeable, but grind implies labor exhausting to mind or body.

the grind of the assembly line

When could labor be used to replace work?

The words labor and work are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion.

farmers demanding fair compensation for their labor

When is toil a more appropriate choice than work?

The words toil and work can be used in similar contexts, but toil implies prolonged and fatiguing labor.

his lot would be years of back-breaking toil

When is it sensible to use travail instead of work?

Although the words travail and work have much in common, travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.

years of travail were lost when the house burned

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of work
Verb
As the pair work together, Cole realizes his curse might just be a gift, leading to one of the most unexpected movie twists in cinema history. Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025 This makes the squat explosive, leading to greater stimulation and means Madrid’s players work their adductor muscles in their thighs. Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
His work has appeared in the New Yorker, the Paris Review, Best American Stories, and been awarded four Pushcart Prizes. Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025 Treat the prep work as the foundation of every painting project, and your walls will reward you with a smooth, durable, high-end finish that will truly elevate your space. Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for work
Recent Examples of Synonyms for work
Verb
  • Knowing what causes a disease is often the first step for mitigation.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 17 Oct. 2025
  • There are also concerns the delay will cause chaos, confusion and stress for Americans, some of whom have already started receiving notices that their premiums will skyrocket next year.
    Ali Swenson, Twin Cities, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, in dress form, this problem is solved!
    Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Fields will now have to solve his problems without his favorite receiver.
    Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Anglers who want to keep their catch fresh on a long drive home are better served to cover fish in a dry livewell with ice.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The tribute also noted that Funkhouser served in Iraq as a member of the Virginia Army National Guard.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Although the Peacock adaptation didn't show a full shot of Gacy in his clown costume, the series included scenes of him talking about his passion for dressing up as a clown and publicly performing as one.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
  • In service jobs, Black workers labored as porters, chauffeurs, and servers; in manufacturing plants, white supremacist pseudoscience was harnessed to justify forcing Black workers to perform the most difficult and dangerous work.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The politically motivated preemption of the late-night program following host Jimmy Kimmel's brief remarks regarding the killing of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk drove a massive wave of Disney+ subscription cancellations, a new report from the research firm Antenna shows, per The New York Times.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Fortune reports on air traffic controllers who are driving for Uber and DoorDash to make ends meet.
    Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Wall Street analysts estimate the fire to cost Ford between $500 million to $1 billion in operating income.
    Michael Wayland, CNBC, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Emirates confirmed to Reuters that its plane was leased from and operated by ACT Airlines, a Turkish carrier that provides extra cargo capacity to major airlines.
    Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • According to Edwards, Brooke deliberately portrayed Arabella as struggling to adapt to her new home and her Canadian identity.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
  • As the team struggles with grief, Sharon decides to pull Station 42 off active duty entirely, rather than assign a new captain.
    Alamin Yohannes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, since the May request, the department has signed a $172 million contract with Gulfstream to buy not one but two used G700 jets.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The breathable cotton quilt is lightweight enough to use year-round, but the warm tones beckon for fall.
    Sheri Kaz, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Work.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/work. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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